"These press reports are stupid and do not even merit a response," a spokesman told reporters in Baghdad.

The announcement came after the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, an opposition group based in Damascus, issued a statement on Monday saying Saddam had suffered a "severe stroke" the day before, according to the agency.

According to press reports, the Iraqi leader was rushed to hospital Tuesday suffering from stroke symptoms after officiating at a grandiose New Years parade in Baghdad.

The Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted a report published in September in the London based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper as saying that Saddam was suffering from very poor health and several physical ailments -- (Several Sources)